Instancing

Redshift for Houdini can render instanced geometry using the powerful Redshift native instancing or point clouds features. The instancing method can be selected from the RS OBJ spare parameters, added to the instancer object. If you don’t add the OBJ spare parameters to the instancer, the instancing is done by default using RS instances.

Redshift instancing is supported using the Houdini Instance OBJ node or any object with the “instance” point attribute. The Redshift instancing can be used also to render particle systems (specially if instanced as RS point clouds) and other Houdini effects. The instances motion blur can be computed from the points velocity vectors, or full computed by the plugin from the points transformations (only for objects without topology changes among the frames)

The plugin can instance regular objects available in the scene, including volumes, particle systems, or Redshift proxy objects from files. The " shop_materialpath" attribute is supported, allowing instances material overrides.

Parameters

Instance Using

Controls whether it's using the instance object type or point clouds

Instances/Particles Motion Blur

Compute sub-frame geometry (deformation): Use deformation motion blur, use for curved motion blur but uses more memory
Use point velocity attribute: Use transformation motion blur

Lights Instancing

Attributes support individual shaders: Light shaders comes from user attributes and can support different shaders per-light
Using a common shared shader: Light shader comes from the referenced light, all lights use the same shader

'instancefile' Mode

Instance Redshift Proxy Objects: Use when loading Redshift proxy files
Instance Houdini Compatible Objects: Use when loading houdini BGEO files

Ignore Pivot Point Attribute

When enabled the Pivot Point attribute is ignored which can be helpful for controlling instance placement.

Override 'instancefile' Proxy Materials From Scene Materials

When enabled, a material in the instance file can be overwritten with a directly applied material.

Process 'instance' and 'instancefile' Attrs. Inside Packed Primitives

When enabled, Redshift uses the "instance" or "instancefile" point attributes to render instances inside packed objects. This requires the packed primitive to be expanded which can result in longer render times.

Instance SOP Level Packed Primitives

When enabled, packed primitives can be instanced at the SOP level, like when using a Copy SOP.

Instance Subnets

When enabled, it allows you to instance an entire subnet without the need to merge the object. Making it easier to instance complex objects with multiple parts.

Instance Procedural Packed Alembics

When enabled this allows for the instancing of procedural packed alembics.

Note, the alembic procedural must still be installed properly and Procedural Alembics must first be enabled in the Redshift ROP. For more information, see the Alembic Procedural page.